Rafferty relishes his role as member of ASU’s bullpen

Tommy Rafferty has become an expert on the concept of delayed gratification.

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The Arizona State reliever has enjoyed a supersized helping of it this year, posting a 6-0 mark and 1.97 ERA and two saves in 18 appearances. This after a frustrating 2007 in which the right-hander was forced to redshirt after a transfer and could not play anyway due to elbow pain and a broken ankle that required surgery.

“It was tough to go through, but it helped me out as a player and a person,” said Rafferty, who came to ASU from Division II Angelo State. “I’m going to get my degree, and it made me a better pitcher.

“I did not have much of a change-up last year. I was a sinker-and-slider guy. I had time to work on my change-up and got better.”

That improved repertoire of pitches has been effective in the middle of and late in games. After a brief turn as the Sun Devils’ closer in the wake of Jason Jarvis’ departure (academic ineligibility), Rafferty has become a middle-inning swingman, especially if the starter struggles.

“Do I kind of like him (in that role)?” asked ASU coach Pat Murphy, who has been loathe to making Rafferty the No. 3 starter. “I love him there, 15 times over.”

Rafferty was similarly impressive as a junior at Angelo State in 2006, going 8-1 with a 1.73 ERA and four saves.

“He tried out for the team, and I thought, ‘Wow, this kid is going to be good,’ ” Murphy said.

Since Angelo State did not grant him his scholarship release, Rafferty had to redshirt last year. The ankle injury occurred in an off-the-field accident while the Sun Devils were at a tournament in Houston.

The waiting and uncertainty affected Rafferty’s mind-set, Murphy said.

“Tommy did what he had to do for a year and went through some tough times,” Murphy said. “He got to practice with us but didn’t go to the College World Series. And after the elbow problems and the ankle surgery, I didn’t know if he would pitch for us.

“I told him not to come back unless his attitude was 100 times different.”

The attitude adjustment is exemplified by Rafferty’s reaction to his number of wins, some of which could have the “vulture” tag applied. He said that personal statistics are not as important as helping bolster an ASU bullpen that has transformed from 2007 liability to ’08 asset. Rafferty and fellow righties Reyes Dorado and Dustin Brader and southpaw Ike Davis have been reliable.

“I’d rather our team get the win,” Rafferty said. “It doesn’t matter to me who gets (the decision). I like our starters to get wins, but if they can’t, we have a bullpen where anyone can come in and do the job. … That was our big goal this year, to prove that we have a staff ... that has ability.”

Arizona State at Washington State

When: 5:30 p.m. today, 2 p.m. Saturday, noon Sunday
Where: Bailey-Brayton Field; Pullman, Wash.
TV/radio: None/KDUS (1060 AM)
Records: ASU 28-3 overall, 4-2 Pac-10; WSU 18-13, 2-4
Rankings: ASU No.3 USA Today/ESPN (coaches)/No. 2 Baseball America/No. 3 Collegiate Baseball/No. 3 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association; WSU unranked
Scouting the Cougars: Ranked earlier this season, WSU has dropped six of its last eight games, including an 11-8 decision at Gonzaga on Tuesday. First baseman Jim Murphy is the Cougars’ best and hottest hitter, with a .417 average and 12 RBIs last week and a .360 clip with nine home runs and 38 RBIs -- all team highs -- for the season. Jayson Miller (4-1, 4.47 ERA) is WSU’s top starting pitcher, and Ross Humes has a 2-1 record with four saves out of the bullpen. Bailey-Brayton Field is one of the most unique in college baseball, a FieldTurf surface where the only dirt areas are the pitcher’s mound and home-plate circle.